The Dolphins’ first regular season home game will be played on Sept. 25, when the Cleveland Browns come to visit Miami. But, judging by the progress made, or not being made, on the team’s new stadium, there are some wondering if the Fins will have a home to host them in at that late stage.
According to Miami-based sports personality Hank Goldberg, the Dolphins could not only miss out on playing their exhibition season in their new building, but could miss out on some important regular season games, as well.
“The official word from the Dolphins’ management is, ‘It’s gonna be tight,’” Goldberg told CBS Sports this week. “But they’re working round the clock to get it ready.”
The Dolphins already know they’ll play their first home preseason game in Orlando, but their second is still currently in doubt. The franchise will share their new stadium with the Miami Hurricanes, who are increasingly worried about when they will be able to play in it, and the possibility of having to find a temporary home for the duration.
“The University of Miami is very concerned, because their home opener against Florida A&M will be played at FAU, and their Florida State game is scheduled for Oct. 8,” Goldberg added. “There are some who say the stadium may not be ready until November. The University of Miami doesn’t want to lose its home game against Florida State -- that’s a big payday for them and they’re already looking into the prospect of having to move that game to Orlando.
“That’s huge money, and now you’re talking about a legal situation between them and the Dolphins that could arise.”
Will the Dolphins even be able to play their early regular season engagements in their new building? While the team remains optimistic, Goldberg and others need some convincing. The opener against Cleveland is very much in doubt.
“Now, scheduling for the Dolphins, Sept. 25 it’s Cleveland, Oct. 9 it’s Tennessee, and Steelers are Oct. 16. If they start to lose home games like that, those aren’t schedules that they can flip-flop, because those teams aren’t division games. And they may be in the same situation New Orleans was when they had the hurricane [Katrina, in 2005] there and they had no home to play in for a while.
“They’re looking at a real dicey situation,” Goldberg said.